THE iconic Land Rover Defender is back, re-imagined for the 21st century. It’s clever, capable and safe for all the family, and in a category of its own. Its maker is also hoping it can capture adventurous hearts and curious minds.
The unmistakable silhouette is familiar yet new. It looks tough, and is tough, but designed with purpose and engineered to excite. Iconic in name, shape and capability, the Defender can now also be personalised to allow owners to make the most of their world.
Across seven decades of pioneering innovation, Land Rovers have earned a unique place in the hearts of explorers, humanitarian agencies and adventurous families across the world.
Proven in the harshest environments on earth, the new Defender maintains this bloodline, with a luxury and refinement borrowed from the Range Rover family and the highly capable and versatile Discovery SUVs.
Advanced all-terrain technologies redefine the new Defender, with the 110 its debut model. This is just the start for this family of capable and durable 4x4s, and it will be swiftly followed by a compact short wheelbase 90 in 2020.
The Defender 110 offers five, six or 5+2 seating configurations, with a load space behind the second row seats of up to 1,075 litres, and as much as 2,380-litres when the second row is folded.
The Defender 90 will be able to accommodate six occupants in a vehicle the length of a compact family hatchback.
Land Rover’s new purpose engineered D7x (for extreme) architecture is the key to the new model, and is based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction to create the stiffest body structure the company has ever produced.
It is three times stiffer than traditional body-on-frame designs, providing perfect foundations for the fully independent air or coil sprung suspension, and supports the latest electrified power trains.
The new Defender has been through more than 62,000 tests for engineering sign off, while the chassis and body architecture have been engineered to withstand Land Rover’s Extreme Event test procedure.
During development testing, prototype models have covered millions of kilometres across some of the harshest environments on earth, ranging from the 50 degree heat of the desert to sub 40 degree cold in the Arctic.
A choice of advanced petrol and cleaner diesel engines ensure new Defender has the power, control and efficiency for any environment, while a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) power train will join the range next year.
At launch, the petrol line up comprises a powerful 6-cylinder P400 (297kW), featuring efficient Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology. Alternatively, customers can choose from a pair of 4-cylinder diesels – the D200 (147kW) and powerful D240 (177kW).
The Land Rover Defender 110 will be available from mid next year, with pricing expected to start at around $70,000 plus on-roads. The Land Rover Defender 90 will arrive late in 2020, with pricing to be announced prior to the arrival of the 110.
